Jawahirullah announces anti-drug campaign and criticizes Prime Minister's speech on first Independence Day

MH Jawahirullah addresses the state executive committee of the youth wing of the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) in Tiruchi. | Photo credit: R. Selva Muthu Kumar

Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader MH Jawahirullah on Sunday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech in which he emphasised on a “secular civil code”, calling it a threat to India's diversity and fundamental rights.

Addressing reporters in Tiruchi, Mr Jawahirullah condemned the speech “proposing a uniform civil code” while rejecting communal civil laws, arguing that it would undermine the spirit of unity in diversity. He urged the INDIA bloc to oppose the Prime Minister's stance, stressing that the speech seemed more like a political statement against religious laws than an inclusive national message.

Mr Jawahirullah made these remarks during a meeting of the State Executive Committee of the MMK youth wing in Tiruchi, where he announced the party's plan to hold motorcycle meetings at 100 places by the end of December. According to him, the meetings will reach out to one million youth across Tamil Nadu and make them aware of the dangers of drug abuse.

Mr. Jawahirullah referred to the recent Supreme Court judgement allowing state governments to provide reservations on the basis of population proportions for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Subordinate Classes and Marginalized Muslims and demanded that reservations in education and employment be distributed in proportion to population demographics. He advocated for the extension of reservations for Muslims in Tamil Nadu.

Responding to a question on the statement made by Thol Thirumavalavan, leader of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, on the possibility of a Scheduled Caste person taking over as Chief Minister in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Jawahirullah clarified that it was wrong to take a single remark out of context and use it for propaganda. He welcomed the prospect of a Scheduled Caste person becoming Chief Minister and acknowledged the sizeable SC population in the State.